Global News

Fairfax County, in northern Virginia just outside Washington, DC, is one of the premier centers of commerce and technology in the United States, providing for international businesses the environment needed to grow and succeed. The Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) has an outreach program that spans the globe. In addition to the US-based International Marketing Division, the FCEDA has offices in Bangalore, London, Los Angeles, Munich, Seoul and Tel Aviv to offer full assistance to companies interested in setting up operations on the east coast of the US. The FCEDA provides a wide array of free confidential services and information specifically targeted towards foreign-owned firms.  

Here is a selection of recent news from our overseas offices. 

FROM OUR LONDON OFFICE

Transatlantic Business Networking Receptions 

The FCEDA's annual Transatlantic business networking reception held in London each November was another huge success last year. The guest speaker at the event, the 11th of its kind, was Mr Ian Godden, chairman of A/D/S, who addressed more than 120 leading business people from around the United Kingdom.

The 2012 reception will again be held in November and plans are already underway to "sign up" another nationally known and respected speaker. The annual event is now one of the most anticipated of its kind in the UK business calendar.

US Army OneSource Initiative Enlists Serco 

The US subsidiary of UK-based Serco is headquartered in Fairfax County and won a $32.7 million contract to support the US Army OneSource Initiative designed to provide soldiers and their families with access to information, programs and services. The re-competed contract is valued at $32.7 million, with a one-year base period and two one-year options periods, if all options are exercised.

Through Army OneSource (AOS), a Secretary of the Army Initiative, Serco is helping ensure comprehensive community support and service delivery for soldiers and their families regardless of component or geographic location.

BAE Wins $40 Million Defense Contract and $37 Million Navy Contract 

BAE Systems, one of Fairfax County's largest employers, won a $40 million contract with the US Defense Logistics Agency to perform work on receivers and data modules. In addition, BAE Systems picked up a $37 million contract with the US Navy to design, install and test radio communications for warships.

Fairfax Consultant ICF Plots UK Expansion    

Fairfax-based technology and management consultancy ICF International made a cash offer to acquire U.K.-based consulting firm GHK Holdings. It's part of a plan to expand in Europe and Asia.

FROM OUR MUNICH OFFICE

VW North America - New Fairfax Jobs 

VW North America intends to create 130 new jobs at its Fairfax County headquarters in 2012. CEO Jonathan Browning told the Washington Post that the company was "seeing the benefit of a positive local environment, great labor pool and high quality of living."

EADS and Airbus Consolidate in Fairfax County 

European Aerospace giant EADS North America and subsidiary Airbus Americas have consolidated in a Fairfax County building they are calling One Global View. EADS is moving from nearby Arlington County while Airbus is leaving another Fairfax County location.

Munich Event Spotlights US Investment Opportunities for Aerospace and Aviation Companies 

FCEDA executives spoke at a February 9 seminar in Munich that highlighted US opportunities for German aerospace and aviation companies.

The seminar, "Doing Business in USA - betriebswirtchaftliche und rechtliche Besonderheiten beim Marketintritt in den Vereinigten Staaten" (economic and legal specifics when corporations consider market entry into the United States), was held at the headquarters of bavAIRia e.V., an association commissioned by the state of Bavaria to promote the aviation and aerospace cluster in the Munich area and Bavaria. The event was organised by bavAIRia e.V., the FCEDA and the law firm Reed Smith, which has offices in Fairfax County and Munich.     

Munich, Darmstadt Events Focus on US Investment Possibilities for ICT Companies 

In November the FCEDA helped highlight and identify US market-entry strategies for German technology and telecommunication companies.

On November 15, the FCEDA sponsored "Markteintritt USA: Chancen auf dem US-Markt für IT-und Telekommunikationsunternmehmen am Beispiel von Fairfax County, Virginia " (Market Entry USA: Opportunities in the US Market for IT and Telecommunications Companies in Fairfax County, Virginia). The event at the Munich Technology and Entrepreneur Center was presented by the Bavarian Information and Communication Technology Cluster (BICCnet).

On November 16, the FCEDA sponsored "Markteintritt USA: Chancen auf dem US-Markt für High-Tech Unternehmen" (Market Entry USA: Opportunities in the US Market for High-Tech Companies), which was presented and hosted by IT For Work Unternehmensnetzwerk and IHK Darmstadt, the chamber of commerce for the Darmstadt region.

FROM OUR TEL AVIV OFFICE

Elbit Systems of America Awarded $38.5 Million Defence Contract  

Elbit Systems of America, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., has an office in Fairfax County and has been awarded a five-year contract in the amount of up to $38.5 by the US Defense Logistics Agency. The contract is for the manufacture of electronic displays for the F-16 fighter jets flown by the US Air Force.

To date, Elbit Systems of America has received initial orders in the amount of $3 million under the contract. 

Virginia Governor Visits Israel 

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, on a trade mission to Israel and India, visited the headquarters of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., an Israel-based company that designs, develops and markets innovative satellite and hybrid networking products, services and solutions.

Gilat's wholly-owned subsidiary, Spacenet Inc., is based in Fairfax County and is a leading provider of managed services in North America to the business and government segments.

SK Group Acquires Camero-Tech 

The Israeli SK Group is broadening its defense technology companies portfolio with the acquisition of Camero-Tech Ltd., a world pioneer in Sense-Through-The-Wall (STTW) solutions. Camero had its US headquarters in Fairfax County until 2011 and the company will continue to operate under its original name.

Amir Beeri, CEO of Camero-Tech, welcomed the acquisition saying: "Cooperation with the other SK Group companies combined with the groups' proven capabilities, will undoubtedly contribute towards Camero's continued growth and consolidation as a world leader in its field."

FROM OUR BANGALORE OFFICE

Virginia Announces Cash Incentives to Indian Firms 

Searching for Indian investment in plastics, information technology, energy and advance manufacturing sectors, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced cash incentives to enterprises instead of tax benefits. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, during a trade mission to India, said Indian companies and investors would get cash incentives based on the capital investment and actual number of jobs created in the state. Owing to its location and ready-made talent pool, Virginia is the IT industry leader in the US thanks to its ideal location, good transportation network and a highly skilled talent pool required by IT enterprises.

HCL to create 10,000 jobs in US, Europe Over Five Years 

In one of the biggest announcements related to job creation at the World Economic Forum, Indian IT major HCL Technologies said the company will create 10,000 local jobs in Europe and the US over the next five years. HCL America, a US subsidiary of HCL Technologies, has a Fairfax County office.

Terming it a socially responsible business model for growth, HCL Tech Vice Chairman and CEO Vineet Nayar said the company would create these jobs for fresh engineers through partnerships with educational institutes, local governments, local communities, customers and others in these regions.  

Infosys US Unit Ramps Up Hiring, Investment in the US 

Infosys Public Services (IPS), an Infosys Ltd subsidiary incorporated in the US and focused on federal and state government work in the US, the UK and Canada, is ramping up local hiring and investments to boost growth. Infosys has an office in Fairfax County. The company is looking to hire about 800 people this fiscal year, including around 300 for its development centre in Texas, IPS chief executive Eric Paternoster said. The centre has already hired about 200 people in the past few quarters.

FROM OUR SEOUL OFFICE

Korea-US Free Trade Agreement Ratified 

South Korea and the US signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in late 2011 that became effective on January 1, 2012.  Both countries are working to finish all of the necessary processes in the next few months so that its provisions could be implemented around March this year.

Due to its proximity to the federal government, Fairfax County is a strategic business location for Korean high-tech companies that want to start business in the US, and the FCEDA provides Korean companies with various kinds of support including marketing and networking services. An econometric study on the KORUS FTA showed key positive effects on the Korean economy, such as nearly 5.7 percent growth and the creation of 350,000 jobs in the long term, and an increase in consumer welfare through cheaper foreign products.

It is projected that the ratification of the KORUS FTA will benefit Korea's most representative export industries, automobile and IT. The nation's trade surplus from automobile and IT exports is expected to top $1.1 billion and $900 million, respectively.

Also, the KORUS FTA is likely to generate more business opportunities for Korean high-tech companies in the US federal procurement market.

FTA Premium Plaza This Month 

FCEDA Korea participated in the FTA Premium Plaza, which was held in KINTEX on February 14 with the objective of increasing the use of FTA among domestic, small and medium-sized businesses.
This large scale event hosted approximately 350 foreign buyers and 1,300 domestic sellers in a 'match-made' trade consultation.

FCEDA Korea managed a booth and met with visitors to discuss their business expansion to the US market and explain advantages of doing business in Fairfax County as well as business opportunities in the US market.    

Networking Reception in December 

FCEDA Korea held a networking reception with selected prospects on December 8, 2011, and promoted Fairfax County as a good location for Korean IT and high-tech companies to relocate and expand their business in the US.

This reception was held while Andrew Yu, the FCEDA Asia Business Development Manager, visited Seoul for his outreach marketing activities in Korea.

FROM OUR U.S. HEADQUARTERS

FCEDA in 2011 worked with 164 companies and organisations adding nearly 9,100 jobs to the local economy 

During 2011, the FCEDA worked with 164 companies and organisations adding 9,077 jobs to the Fairfax County economy. Companies in the professional services and information technology sectors dominated 2011 announcements. Thirty-seven foreign-owned firms announced expansions in 2011, including IT staffing company Blue Ally (India), adding 85 jobs; security services provider Securitas (Sweden), creating 35 jobs; wireless communications firm Corning MobileAccess (Israel), adding 25 jobs; telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies (China), creating 23 jobs; and Ascom Network Testing (Switzerland), which develops technologies to analyze mobile networks and is adding 20 jobs. More than 370 foreign-owned firms maintain operations in Fairfax County.

Fairfax County lands Bechtel global operations and 625 jobs 

In November 2011, the FCEDA announced that Bechtel, one of the largest engineering, construction and project management companies in the world, will establish its Global Operations headquarters in Fairfax County. The company will add 625 jobs to the county economy as it also locates its Government Services business unit, its U.S.-based Civil business, Bechtel Enterprises, and corporate functions and services in the Reston area of the county.